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Dispassion And Renunciation - Key To Inner Peace – Swami Chidananda

Dispassion and renunciation comprise the key to inner peace. This peace alone makes happiness possible. Without peace there is no happiness. Thus it is clear, that anyone who wants peace and happiness must cultivate vairagya and tyaga. Attachment and selfishness constitute terrible bondage. Vairagya eradicates attachment. Tyaga cuts at the root of selfishness. They make you free and bring you peace and joy.

Life is a great and sublime yajna. Yajna means self-offering, a noble giving of oneself for the good and the benefit of others. Paropakara is the overall governing principle of man’s life. You can engage yourself in doing good to others, in bringing happiness into the lives of others, only when you shed your selfishness. This is real renunciation. The secret of renunciation is the renunciation of selfishness, egoism and personal desires. Renounce personal selfishness and live in the world, enjoying what providence brings to you as your due.

Swami Chidananda Saraswati (1916 – 2008) was the president of the Divine Life Society in Rishikesh – associated with the Swami Sivananda Ashram

Explanation:

The concepts of Vairagya (dispassion) and Tyaga (renunciation) are central to Hindu philosophy and spiritual practice, particularly in the pursuit of inner peace and true happiness. These concepts are deeply rooted in the teachings of Hindu scriptures, such as the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads, and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.

Vairagya (Dispassion)

Vairagya refers to the state of detachment or dispassion towards the material world and its transient pleasures. It is not about rejecting the world, but about seeing it with a clear understanding of its impermanent nature. Vairagya helps in reducing desires and attachments, leading to a state of mental calm and clarity.

In the Bhagavad Gita (2:62-63), Krishna explains how attachment leads to desires, which in turn lead to anger and delusion, ultimately resulting in the loss of peace and wisdom:

"From attachment, desire is born; from desire, anger is born; from anger, delusion arises; from delusion, bewilderment of memory; when memory is bewildered, intelligence is lost, and when intelligence is lost, one falls down again into the material pool."

Vairagya is thus the antidote to this cycle. By cultivating detachment, one can prevent the mind from becoming entangled in the web of desires and emotions, which are often the root causes of suffering.

Tyaga (Renunciation)

Tyaga, or renunciation, involves giving up selfish actions and the fruits of those actions. It is not merely about giving up material possessions but renouncing the ego and the sense of "I" and "mine." This form of renunciation leads to selflessness and purity of heart, essential for attaining inner peace and spiritual growth.

In the Bhagavad Gita (18:11), Krishna emphasizes the importance of Tyaga:

"It is indeed impossible for an embodied being to renounce all actions. But he who renounces the fruits of action is said to have truly renounced."

This verse underlines that while one cannot abandon action itself (as life requires action), true renunciation lies in giving up attachment to the outcomes of those actions. This detachment is a path to freedom from the cycle of karma and leads to inner peace.

The Interplay of Vairagya and Tyaga

Vairagya and Tyaga are complementary practices. Vairagya helps in reducing attachment to the world, while Tyaga enables the renunciation of the ego and selfishness. Together, they lead to a state of Moksha (liberation), where one is free from the cycle of birth and death, and the mind is at peace.

Modern-Day Relevance

In today's fast-paced and materialistic world, the teachings of Vairagya and Tyaga are more relevant than ever. The constant pursuit of success, wealth, and pleasure often leads to stress, anxiety, and dissatisfaction. By cultivating dispassion and renunciation, individuals can attain a more balanced and peaceful life.

Mindfulness and minimalism in contemporary life can be seen as modern applications of Vairagya and Tyaga. Mindfulness involves being aware of one's thoughts and emotions without attachment, akin to Vairagya, while minimalism involves simplifying life by renouncing excess and focusing on what truly matters, akin to Tyaga.

Similar Thoughts in Hinduism

The idea of Vairagya and Tyaga is echoed in various Hindu scriptures and teachings:

  1. Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (1:12): "Abhyasa vairagyabhyam tannirodhah" – This sutra teaches that the mind's fluctuations can be controlled through practice (Abhyasa) and dispassion (Vairagya).

  2. Mundaka Upanishad (2:2:4): "Sanyasa yoga yuktatma shuddhasattva samahitah" – The Upanishad emphasizes that the purified self, through renunciation and yoga, attains the highest state of meditation and wisdom.

  3. Adi Shankaracharya, in his work Vivekachudamani, highlights the importance of Vairagya as a fundamental requirement for the spiritual aspirant: "Vairagyam paramam sukham" – Dispassion leads to supreme happiness.

Quotes on Vairagya and Tyaga

  • Swami Vivekananda: "The secret of life is not enjoyment, but education through experience. The dispassionate mind alone can get through the world without sinking into it."
  • Ramana Maharshi: "Realisation is not acquisition of anything new nor is it a new faculty. It is only removal of all camouflage."

Vairagya and Tyaga offer timeless wisdom for achieving inner peace and true happiness. In an era dominated by materialism and external pursuits, these principles remind us of the importance of inner detachment, selflessness, and the renunciation of the ego, guiding us towards a life of fulfillment and tranquility.